The Athletic - Boston FLUTO - Bruins fan survey: Higher ticket prices for a non-playoff team? Not a popular move

[Fenway]

Management can dismiss HFBoards, but it is a little harder to dismiss The Athletic and The New York Times

The only poll that will shake them is season ticket renewals, and the word of mouth is that they are alarmed.

Bruins fan survey: Higher ticket prices for a non-playoff team? Not a popular move

Who should the next coach be? the next captain? Who should be traded? Should Boston move its first-round pick? Here's what readers say.

www.nytimes.com

 

[BMC]

On one hand it’s good that they are alarmed about the STHs- this might spur them into serious action. OTOH it’s bad- they could panic and do something stupid. I look for the latter result.

 

[4ORRBRUIN]

Management can dismiss HFBoards, but it is a little harder to dismiss The Athletic and The New York Times

The only poll that will shake them is season ticket renewals, and the word of mouth is that they are alarmed.

Bruins fan survey: Higher ticket prices for a non-playoff team? Not a popular move

Who should the next coach be? the next captain? Who should be traded? Should Boston move its first-round pick? Here's what readers say.

www.nytimes.com

View attachment 1027099
View attachment 1027100
View attachment 1027101
View attachment 1027102
View attachment 1027103
View attachment 1027104
View attachment 1027105
View attachment 1027106
View attachment 1027107
View attachment 1027108
View attachment 1027109

I wouldn't wipe my ass with the Athletic, I respect my ass to much.

 

[NeelyDan]

I mean I get it but if you take the emotion out of it it's a pretty stupid premise to think that ticket prices should be tied disproportionately to playoff success/appearance. The economy isn't that simple. Business models are much broader. Maybe if it's an extended absence, I guess - but the world is what it is, no matter if they make the playoffs or not.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

18% of the votes were employees. Why else would you vote No to keep the price increase.

 

[Gee Wally]

Raising prices on anything is never popular. No great revelation there.

It’s still supply and demand. I dont know what percentage of seats are season ticket holders. But thats a non factor for the upcoming season. It’s the delta of single game sales that will determine demand number for upcoming season. If still at or near sellouts they have no reason to do a damn thing.

 

[TD Charlie]

Raising prices on anything is never popular. No great revelation there.

It’s still supply and demand. I dont know what percentage of seats are season ticket holders. But thats a non factor for the upcoming season. It’s the delta of single game sales that will determine demand number for upcoming season. If still at or near sellouts they have no reason to do a damn thing.

That’s all it is. The seasons that season ticket holders were all reselling seats for solid profits while UNDERCUTTING the box office really had to go up ownerships ass sideways.

I’d do the same thing if i were them. It’s THEIR product. Why would they allow customers to profit off their backs when they could just take the profit for themselves?

 

[jgatie]

I wouldn't wipe my ass with the Atlantic, I respect my ass to much.

ATHletic. To paraphrase Lloyd Dobbler, "TH. Big difference."

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

97% attendance league wide, which includes the dumpster fires. Those who think that one bad year is going to result in a ton of empty seats are nuts.

 

[rfournier103]

I would have actually paid to see the Bruins play next season if not for that letter released by Charlie Jacobs and that horrifying dog and pony show Jacobs, Neely and Sweeney treated us to a week later.

Both the letter and that farce of a press conference were as insulting as anything I’ve ever seen foisted on Boston fans in my life.

What anyone else does with their time and money is their business, but next season, my leisure time and discretionary money will be spent on things other than Boston Bruins hockey.

I’ll watch again when I feel like the team is worth watching. I’ll go back to the Garden when Charlie’s condescension fades from my memory a little bit.

 

[the negotiator]

Although season ticket renewal percentages haven't been released my guess is that it remained relatively high given I have two friends on the waiting list who didn't get a sniff.

That said I also know a long-time STH who didn't renew so the red light may not be flashing but it is turning pink

As Wally wrote-single game sales will tell just how red the light is flashing....which suggests some type of off-season splash to stir fan interest in what is beginning to become an irrelevant franchise in the overall sports marketplace like it was twenty years ago

And to Lady Fan's point- the Bs treatment of STH is miles below what numerous other team do.....we might also see a (slight) opening of the Jacobs wallet as they try to make sure the trickle doesn't become a flood

Will be a very, very interesting off-season

 

[sarge88]

I’ll still go to my usual 3-5 games next year because it’s something I enjoy….even if they aren’t a good team.

My pro-tip is to go to the games vs. the lousy teams or games where the opponent is playing the B’s on the second day of back to back games.

Much better chance of seeing a win, enjoying the game and not being mad about spending $500 for the night.

I could not care less about seeing the “superstars” across the league.

Give me a Buffalo game on a Wednesday in February over whenever McDavid, McKinnon, or either Tkachuk comes here.

 

[rfournier103]

As Wally wrote-single game sales will tell just how red the light is flashing....which suggests some type of off-season splash to stir fan interest in what is beginning to become an irrelevant franchise in the overall sports franchise like it was twenty years ago

Following the 2011 Cup triumph, the Bruins were kings of the Boston sports landscape. I’ve never seen them more popular, and they rivaled the Brady Era Patriots in terms of buzz here in Massachusetts.

On May 1, 2025, the Bruins are a solid FOURTH PLACE on the Boston sports food-chain. Well behind the Patriots, Celtics and Red Sox. Whenever the Bruins are talked about on sports-yak radio - which isn’t often - it’s for all the wrong reasons. The Celtics are defending champions, and the Red Sox and Patriots are trending in an upward direction. Going to be hard for a lousy-to-mid hockey team to muscle their way into that crowd.

The Jacobs’ shall reap what they’ve sown.

 

[Ladyfan]

18% of the votes were employees. Why else would you vote No to keep the price increase.

I would love to know who voted in this. That would make a big difference. I have had ST for 23 years and I wasn't asked

 

[4ORRBRUIN]

ATHletic. To paraphrase Lloyd Dobbler, "TH. Big difference."

You could have just fixed it for me LOL

 

[Ladyfan]

Although season ticket renewal percentages haven't been released my guess is that it remained relatively high given I have two friends on the waiting list who didn't get a sniff. I know of a few who want ST (on the wait list) and have not yet been contacted

That said I also know a long-time STH who didn't renew so the red light may not be flashing but it is turning pink I know of one (she used to post here). I am sad to see her go

As Wally wrote-single game sales will tell just how red the light is flashing....which suggests some type of off-season splash to stir fan interest in what is beginning to become an irrelevant franchise in the overall sports franchise like it was twenty years ago. As long as that waiting list exists, they won't get too worried. When I first got my seats there were only 3000 STH and the Garden was never full. That is a good time to get seats as you have a better choice of seats. They sucked when I got mine (23 years ago). I have ALWAYS been able to sell my seats if I wasn't going to a game. Of course, you can sell high when they are playing well.

And to Lady Fan's point- the Bs treatment of STH is miles below what numerous other team do.....we might also see a (slight) opening of the Jacobs wallet as they try to make sure the trickle doesn't become a flood They were much nicer to the STH when I first had my seats but like I said...there were only 3000 STH. We got better stuff and access to players.

Will be a very, very interesting off-season I am actually interested to see what team they ice for next Fall. I honestly think it will be better. We get our two top D men back...maybe Brad too. Pasta is getting better every season and is a very good leader. Bs need other leaders too. I was shocked that after Brad left, they only had one player (Pasta) wearing a letter on the ice. Could it really be that there was no one else they could sew an "A" on? Even in the preseason games there are three players with letters on the ice. The pressure on Pasta's shoulders was tough...I was very impressed how well David handled having all of the leadership dumped on him.

see above.

Bottom line...sure I would love cheaper ST but supply / demand.

My advise....get your ST (if you want them) when things aren't so good because if you wait until the Bs are playing well there will be nothing to get.

 

[GordonHowe]

Raising prices on anything is never popular. No great revelation there.

It’s still supply and demand. I dont know what percentage of seats are season ticket holders. But thats a non factor for the upcoming season. It’s the delta of single game sales that will determine demand number for upcoming season. If still at or near sellouts they have no reason to do a damn thing.

There's a lot of curiosity, but a lot of disgust as well. I don't know what the percentage of either of those is.

 

[Morris Wanchuk]

It took them getting to 3k STH to fire Sinden/MOC. Charlie has his Sinden/MOC in Neely and Sweeney.

Until it gets that bad they are not going anywhere. We are back to the make the playoffs for one round days.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

I’ll still go to my usual 3-5 games next year because it’s something I enjoy….even if they aren’t a good team.
My pro-tip is to go to the games vs. the lousy teams or games where the opponent is playing the B’s on the second day of back to back games.
Much better chance of seeing a win, enjoying the game and not being mad about spending $500 for the night.
I could not care less about seeing the “superstars” across the league.

Give me a Buffalo game on a Wednesday in February over whenever McDavid, McKinnon, or either Tkachuk comes here.

That seems odd to me.

 

[Aussie Bruin]

I’ll still go to my usual 3-5 games next year because it’s something I enjoy….even if they aren’t a good team.

My pro-tip is to go to the games vs. the lousy teams or games where the opponent is playing the B’s on the second day of back to back games.

Much better chance of seeing a win, enjoying the game and not being mad about spending $500 for the night.

I could not care less about seeing the “superstars” across the league.

Give me a Buffalo game on a Wednesday in February over whenever McDavid, McKinnon, or either Tkachuk comes here.

Agree with you in general, but.....have you ever seen McDavid live? Because there seriously is nothing else in hockey, heck nothing else in sports, quite like it. Well well worth checking out. I imagine MacKinnon would be similar, and that's about it.

 

[sarge88]

That seems odd to me.

Which part?

Hoping to see a win after spending $500+ for a night of entertainment?

 

[sarge88]

Agree with you in general, but.....have you ever seen McDavid live? Because there seriously is nothing else in hockey, heck nothing else in sports, quite like it. Well well worth checking out. I imagine MacKinnon would be similar, and that's about it.

I get that it's probably different than most people think, but I'm a B's fan first, and a hockey fan a somewhat distant second, I guess is the best way to explain it.

If I watched McDavid score the most magnificent goal in history against the B's --- it would only make me like him less --- obviously only if it had an effect on the final score....he scores it in an 8-1 loss or vs. the Islanders and I happened to be at that game for some reason, I'd appreciate it. But, in the end I want the B's to win above all else.

 

[Aussie Bruin]

I get that it's probably different than most people think, but I'm a B's fan first, and a hockey fan a somewhat distant second, I guess is the best way to explain it.

If I watched McDavid score the most magnificent goal in history against the B's --- it would only make me like him less --- obviously if it had an effect on the final score....he scores it in an 8-1 loss or vs. the Islanders and I happened to be at that game for some reason, I'd appreciate it. But, in the end I want the B's to win above all else.

I get it. To each their own. I reckon if I lived in Boston and could go to 5-6 games a season I'd split it - half the games I'd choose one that looked good odds for a Bruins win, and the other half I'd go for quality opponents with star players, whether that's currently the Avs or Oils or whoever. To me winning is fun, but seeing great teams and players do their thing is fun too, even if you're sometimes on the losing end of it. The Bruins beating the likes of Colorado is of course the best of both worlds.

Beating the Habs of course, exists in a plane of its own.

 

[Morris Wanchuk]

That seems odd to me.

I agree with him here as well.

When I was a STH I sold almost all of my western conference games and there were far less than there is now. Most were snooze fests regardless of what superstar was playing. Part of the reason I got out was when they sacrificed divisional and conference games for more western games. No thanks,

To me hockey is best when there is hate and that is very much lacking for western conference games.

 

[jgatie]

Give me rivalry games vs Western Conference teams all day, every day. We need those today far more than we did when the only access to hockey was TV38. If I want to see McDavid, I can watch on YouTube, NHL Center Ice, the NHL app, or any number of other sources. I'd much rather see the Habs vs. Bruins fomenting hatred in 8 total games over the course of the season than watch the Oilers come to town once.